3 Year old Kindy
Daycare vs kindy

I'm looking at putting Mr 2 1/2 into 3 year old kindy and someone suggested putting him in to daycare one day a week where they have a 3 year old program. It would be hell of a lot cheaper possibly a 1/4 of the price. Has anyone done this?

No my daughter is starting 3 year old preschool (kinder) this year. I looked into it and thought the proper preschool had more to offer (qualified teacher, 3 teachers to a class of 20, same kids everyday just like school etc).

Yes -- I did this with my daughter. She attended a very reputable long day care that had a "kindy" program. We weren't able to get a preschool/kindy spot in Sydney, so this was the best option available.

My son attended a formal kindy (preschool) program affiliated with the primary school my daughter now attends.

Very big difference in programs -- the formal kindy program was far more structured (children arriving and departing at the same time; same children on the given days; far better teacher-child ratio; tighter sense of community).

The upside of the LDC program was, as you can imagine, the cost...as well as the flexibility of hours. However, I do think my son's program was of higher calibre -- even though each respective program had very well trained and highly dedicated staff.

3 year old kindy here is only 2 x 2.5 hour sessions a week that is why I was thinking one day would be enough. It is really hard to get into a good 3 year old kindy program as there isn't many in the area and they were booked very quickly and have long waiting lists ( we are on a few)

I have done both with my daughter. The long day care with a kindy program run by a teacher and an early learning centre attached to her current private school. The long day care program was good and I was quite happy with it, however the ELC was miles ahead in quality of program.

BMJ, sorry to hear of your experience.Our own has been vastly different. Our LDC has integrated 3 and 4 year old programs which surpass that of almost all the other local kindergartens. They have a kinder teacher on site from 7:30-6, and have a huge variety of structured and unstructured activities through the day. Like everything, I do think you can't make any generalizations, as each service is unique. And like all things we do as parents, I think you have to assess the downsides and benefits for you as a family. Availability vs quality of program vs need for flexible hours, all in the context of what is available. We are enormously lucky that one centre meets both our needs for childcare and kinder in quite a fabulous way.

I have done both options with both of my boys. My eldest went to a 3 year old kindergarten and did fine. At the time I was a SAHM and then pregnant with my second so the preschool hours of 9-3 worked for us.

My second son (now 2.5) started with one day a week at daycare with a view to me going back to work in 2013. He's now there 3 days a week in preparation for that. I chose LDC over preschool because I needed the LDC hours to be able to go back to work. I was concerned about the preschool program once he reached a preschool age so pointedly asked the director about it. She said that they are legally obliged to offer a NSW Dept of Education preschool program. She said the program they do is EXACTLY the same as the community kindergarten's just up the road. People gag to get into this community kindy and will take their children out of the LDC (that offers the same program) to go into it.

I honestly think it comes down to what hours you need, the cost (LDC is cheaper) and the quality of the program offered.

There is a fundamental difference - Daycare is just that. Whereas Preschool/Kindy is programmed specifically to ready your child for school. If you want a school readiness programme for your child, daycare will not provide it.

There is a fundamental difference - Daycare is just that. Whereas Preschool/Kindy is programmed specifically to ready your child for school. If you want a school readiness programme for your child, daycare will not provide it.

That's actually not true. Some childcares DO provide a structured school readiness program. You have to check to see if they specifically do, but if they do, then it is the same as any kindergarten.Like all kinder programs, some are 'better' than others. I do not think you can make a blanket statement though that an integrated kinder program is fundamentally inferior to a stand alone one. I think any service should be assessed on its merits.

My DD1 went to childcare which had a qualified kinder teacher and program, I was really happy with it. Seeing the children start school with her she was more ready for school than the children who went to Kinder.Our teacher organised to visit all the schools that any of the children were attending and each of the schools commented on the readiness of the children. I will be doing the same with DD2.

I know our local daycare has a fantastic preschool program. Their school readiness program is great.

It really comes down to looking at the individual kinders and daycare in your areas, what they offer, your own personal circumstances (eg, your income and circumstances affects how much CCB% and if you get the 50% rebate, and can make a huge difference to costs), your family needs (longer, more flexible hours of LDC can make life much easier in some situations)

I think each daycare and preschool will offer slightly different things, and sometimes the differences are more about the particular staff/type of service (community based/govt run/for profit/small business etc), the educational philosophy of the service etc rather than whether it is called a daycare or a preschool.

Perhaps it would be good to think about what you are looking for in a service, what you are hoping your DS will get out of it, and then visit a few services and ask them questions.

ETA: My DS is going to be attending a "preschool" which specifically doesn't call their program a "school readiness program", and that's actually what we are looking for and we are very happy with. That's not to say that they don't do education there, but it's a play-based/child-led/flexible curriculum that's looking at children's needs in the here and now rather than preparing them for school.

The 3 Year old Kindy that I can get DS into I'm not sure if it would be much better than just daycare whereas the daycare centre I am thinking of putting him in have won awards for their 3 year old program. The are several reasons I am looking into 3 year old kindy/daycare1) I work from home and my mum and MIL can no longer have DS one day a fortnight on a regular basis2) I think DS is going to need something to keep him busy during the year as he is a very active child with a great imagination who is always looking for more. I don't think gymbaroo is going to cut it this year.3) he usually play mate is off to preschool this year and DS will be the oldest in the group with the rest of the children are in the baby category4) I think it will be good for him to be in a social environment without me or his nanas and around peers of a singular age5) was thinking daycare as it is cheaper after the rebates as at $400 a term for 3 year old kindy is pretty expensive 6) was thinking daycare as DS is not 3 until May so he can start daycare now and they will move him to the 3 year old program as soon as they can7) also your child has to be fully toilet trained to get into 3 year old kindy otherwise they send you home and DS isn't quite their yet and can't guarantee he will be by May fingers crossed he isThat's all I can think of right now. Is 3 year old kindy essential to ease I to preschool?

I looked at 3yo kindy for DS2, but it was a morning and an afternoon session which clashed with school drop-off and pick-up respectively. I was studying, and as a pp has indicated, the flexibility of daycare meant that it made more sense to keep him in daycare with DD.

I actually enrolled DD in 3yo kindy for this year at a different kindy where she would be doing 9.15-2.30, 2 days a week. However, I am starting a new job and will again need the flexibility of daycare.

Great thread but I am a bit confused... In NSW it is pre school then kindergarten isn't it? My son is a JUly baby so enrolled in to a Ldc /pre school commencing next year, he will be 3.5. Following year will be kindergarten at 4.5, then school at 5.5. Does that sound about right?

My younger daughter will do two days of LDC and one day of preschool this year. Honestly, I'd have her at the daycare every day if I could. The preschool looks fine, but nowhere near the quality of daycare.

3 year old kindy here is only 2 x 2.5 hour sessions a week that is why I was thinking one day would be enough. It is really hard to get into a good 3 year old kindy program as there isn't many in the area and they were booked very quickly and have long waiting lists ( we are on a few)

Oh ok, DD had 16 hours a week at 3yo kindy. Next year she'll have 2 full days, but that's because we changed late in the year and couldn't get a program with more days at the new school. Otherwise she'd be there for 4 full days in 4yo.

I'm curious, do many people regard 3 yr old kindy/pre school as essential? What sort of expectations for learning/development do people hold regarding attending 3 yr old kindy as opposed to attending an LDC or family day care? For those enrolling their children in kindy at age 3, do you feel perhaps you're child will be ready for school a little earlier for their age and is that why you're looking for a school readiness program at this stage?

Admittedly, I haven't thought much about DS attending school readiness programs beyond what we'll do next year when he's 4, as here in Qld prep starts at age 5 and is not mandatory. (DS is about to turn 3 and he's starting in the pre-kindy room on Monday at his LDC).